World Bee Day: what you can do to help our bees (and beekeepers)

The Advertiser

19-05-2025

When was the last time you saw a bee in your garden? Or at a park?
You might be surprised.
Varroa mite is to blame. First detected at the Port of Newcastle in June 2022, it has decimated bee populations and hives across the state.
About 40 million European honeybees were euthanised as part of a 15-month hive eradication program. Beekeepers are now tasked with managing their hives and treating varroa mite outbreaks as they arise.
Varroa mites are here to stay, and by infecting and killing bees, they continue to threaten the food systems that depend on them.
That includes us.
Today is World Bee Day and, to mark the occasion, people-powered fresh food network Box Divvy is encouraging people to help bees - and beekeepers - by turning everyday spaces into bee-friendly zones.
2 Pops Honey at Caves Beach is one of two small-scale NSW beekeepers who supply honey to Box Divvy for distribution to households.
"These producers are working with nature, not against it," said Jayne Travers-Drapes, co-founder of Box Divvy.
"They care about biodiversity, the quality of the honey, and the impact of their practices on the environment."
Russell Smith is the founder of 2 Pops Honey. His hives are in the eucalypt forests of the Wallarah Peninsula and the Watagan Mountains.
What began as a backyard hobby for him quickly became a mission to give bees the healthiest possible environment, based on a commitment to ethical beekeeping that supports local ecosystems, biodiversity and community health.
"Our goal has always been to keep things simple and natural for the bees," Mr Smith said.
"We avoid chemicals, give the bees plenty of forage, and let them do what they do best. Healthy bees mean healthy ecosystems - and better honey too."
Mr Smith started off with 10 hives and ended up with "120 or 130. Then varroa came and we lost them all".
"To see beekeepers, 50 or 60-year-old fellas, crying, it was devastating," he said.
"We've had to start over from scratch, but we had to think long and hard about it first. A lot of beekeepers went out of business ... a lot of older beekeepers found the task of dealing with varroa too great. It's a lot of work.
"We're never going to beat it now, it's here and it's not going anywhere. It's in Queensland and Victoria now too. We hear it all the time: we just don't see bees any more."
How can we support bees at home? Even small changes can make a big difference. Here are a few simple steps anyone can take:
"These small actions help keep our ecosystems functioning," Mr Travers-Drapes said.
"Bees are essential to our food supply - and the choices we make at home really do matter."
Box Divvy enables Australians to access fresh, high-quality produce and pantry staples at competitive prices, while ensuring fair payment to local farmers and ethical suppliers. It also brings neighbours together through a network of local food "hubs", allowing people to share seasonal produce and support growers doing things the right way.
When was the last time you saw a bee in your garden? Or at a park?
You might be surprised.
Varroa mite is to blame. First detected at the Port of Newcastle in June 2022, it has decimated bee populations and hives across the state.
About 40 million European honeybees were euthanised as part of a 15-month hive eradication program. Beekeepers are now tasked with managing their hives and treating varroa mite outbreaks as they arise.
Varroa mites are here to stay, and by infecting and killing bees, they continue to threaten the food systems that depend on them.
That includes us.
Today is World Bee Day and, to mark the occasion, people-powered fresh food network Box Divvy is encouraging people to help bees - and beekeepers - by turning everyday spaces into bee-friendly zones.
2 Pops Honey at Caves Beach is one of two small-scale NSW beekeepers who supply honey to Box Divvy for distribution to households.
"These producers are working with nature, not against it," said Jayne Travers-Drapes, co-founder of Box Divvy.
"They care about biodiversity, the quality of the honey, and the impact of their practices on the environment."
Russell Smith is the founder of 2 Pops Honey. His hives are in the eucalypt forests of the Wallarah Peninsula and the Watagan Mountains.
What began as a backyard hobby for him quickly became a mission to give bees the healthiest possible environment, based on a commitment to ethical beekeeping that supports local ecosystems, biodiversity and community health.
"Our goal has always been to keep things simple and natural for the bees," Mr Smith said.
"We avoid chemicals, give the bees plenty of forage, and let them do what they do best. Healthy bees mean healthy ecosystems - and better honey too."
Mr Smith started off with 10 hives and ended up with "120 or 130. Then varroa came and we lost them all".
"To see beekeepers, 50 or 60-year-old fellas, crying, it was devastating," he said.
"We've had to start over from scratch, but we had to think long and hard about it first. A lot of beekeepers went out of business ... a lot of older beekeepers found the task of dealing with varroa too great. It's a lot of work.
"We're never going to beat it now, it's here and it's not going anywhere. It's in Queensland and Victoria now too. We hear it all the time: we just don't see bees any more."
How can we support bees at home? Even small changes can make a big difference. Here are a few simple steps anyone can take:
"These small actions help keep our ecosystems functioning," Mr Travers-Drapes said.
"Bees are essential to our food supply - and the choices we make at home really do matter."
Box Divvy enables Australians to access fresh, high-quality produce and pantry staples at competitive prices, while ensuring fair payment to local farmers and ethical suppliers. It also brings neighbours together through a network of local food "hubs", allowing people to share seasonal produce and support growers doing things the right way.
When was the last time you saw a bee in your garden? Or at a park?
You might be surprised.
Varroa mite is to blame. First detected at the Port of Newcastle in June 2022, it has decimated bee populations and hives across the state.
About 40 million European honeybees were euthanised as part of a 15-month hive eradication program. Beekeepers are now tasked with managing their hives and treating varroa mite outbreaks as they arise.
Varroa mites are here to stay, and by infecting and killing bees, they continue to threaten the food systems that depend on them.
That includes us.
Today is World Bee Day and, to mark the occasion, people-powered fresh food network Box Divvy is encouraging people to help bees - and beekeepers - by turning everyday spaces into bee-friendly zones.
2 Pops Honey at Caves Beach is one of two small-scale NSW beekeepers who supply honey to Box Divvy for distribution to households.
"These producers are working with nature, not against it," said Jayne Travers-Drapes, co-founder of Box Divvy.
"They care about biodiversity, the quality of the honey, and the impact of their practices on the environment."
Russell Smith is the founder of 2 Pops Honey. His hives are in the eucalypt forests of the Wallarah Peninsula and the Watagan Mountains.
What began as a backyard hobby for him quickly became a mission to give bees the healthiest possible environment, based on a commitment to ethical beekeeping that supports local ecosystems, biodiversity and community health.
"Our goal has always been to keep things simple and natural for the bees," Mr Smith said.
"We avoid chemicals, give the bees plenty of forage, and let them do what they do best. Healthy bees mean healthy ecosystems - and better honey too."
Mr Smith started off with 10 hives and ended up with "120 or 130. Then varroa came and we lost them all".
"To see beekeepers, 50 or 60-year-old fellas, crying, it was devastating," he said.
"We've had to start over from scratch, but we had to think long and hard about it first. A lot of beekeepers went out of business ... a lot of older beekeepers found the task of dealing with varroa too great. It's a lot of work.
"We're never going to beat it now, it's here and it's not going anywhere. It's in Queensland and Victoria now too. We hear it all the time: we just don't see bees any more."
How can we support bees at home? Even small changes can make a big difference. Here are a few simple steps anyone can take:
"These small actions help keep our ecosystems functioning," Mr Travers-Drapes said.
"Bees are essential to our food supply - and the choices we make at home really do matter."
Box Divvy enables Australians to access fresh, high-quality produce and pantry staples at competitive prices, while ensuring fair payment to local farmers and ethical suppliers. It also brings neighbours together through a network of local food "hubs", allowing people to share seasonal produce and support growers doing things the right way.
When was the last time you saw a bee in your garden? Or at a park?
You might be surprised.
Varroa mite is to blame. First detected at the Port of Newcastle in June 2022, it has decimated bee populations and hives across the state.
About 40 million European honeybees were euthanised as part of a 15-month hive eradication program. Beekeepers are now tasked with managing their hives and treating varroa mite outbreaks as they arise.
Varroa mites are here to stay, and by infecting and killing bees, they continue to threaten the food systems that depend on them.
That includes us.
Today is World Bee Day and, to mark the occasion, people-powered fresh food network Box Divvy is encouraging people to help bees - and beekeepers - by turning everyday spaces into bee-friendly zones.
2 Pops Honey at Caves Beach is one of two small-scale NSW beekeepers who supply honey to Box Divvy for distribution to households.
"These producers are working with nature, not against it," said Jayne Travers-Drapes, co-founder of Box Divvy.
"They care about biodiversity, the quality of the honey, and the impact of their practices on the environment."
Russell Smith is the founder of 2 Pops Honey. His hives are in the eucalypt forests of the Wallarah Peninsula and the Watagan Mountains.
What began as a backyard hobby for him quickly became a mission to give bees the healthiest possible environment, based on a commitment to ethical beekeeping that supports local ecosystems, biodiversity and community health.
"Our goal has always been to keep things simple and natural for the bees," Mr Smith said.
"We avoid chemicals, give the bees plenty of forage, and let them do what they do best. Healthy bees mean healthy ecosystems - and better honey too."
Mr Smith started off with 10 hives and ended up with "120 or 130. Then varroa came and we lost them all".
"To see beekeepers, 50 or 60-year-old fellas, crying, it was devastating," he said.
"We've had to start over from scratch, but we had to think long and hard about it first. A lot of beekeepers went out of business ... a lot of older beekeepers found the task of dealing with varroa too great. It's a lot of work.
"We're never going to beat it now, it's here and it's not going anywhere. It's in Queensland and Victoria now too. We hear it all the time: we just don't see bees any more."
How can we support bees at home? Even small changes can make a big difference. Here are a few simple steps anyone can take:
"These small actions help keep our ecosystems functioning," Mr Travers-Drapes said.
"Bees are essential to our food supply - and the choices we make at home really do matter."
Box Divvy enables Australians to access fresh, high-quality produce and pantry staples at competitive prices, while ensuring fair payment to local farmers and ethical suppliers. It also brings neighbours together through a network of local food "hubs", allowing people to share seasonal produce and support growers doing things the right way.